On this page
Open source used to mean rough edges. Not anymore — these apps are as polished as their paid rivals, and you can self-host them when you're ready.
The list
| Instead of | Try | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase | Supabase | Postgres database, auth, storage, and realtime |
| Calendly | Cal.com | Scheduling and booking pages |
| Zapier | n8n | Workflow automation |
| Figma | Penpot | Interface design and prototyping |
| Google Analytics | Plausible | Privacy-friendly web analytics |
| Mixpanel | PostHog | Product analytics and session replay |
| Substack / Medium | Ghost | Publishing and paid newsletters |
| 1Password | Bitwarden | Password manager |
| Tableau | Metabase | Dashboards and BI |
| Shopify | WooCommerce | Ecommerce on WordPress |
| X / Twitter | Mastodon | Decentralized social network |
| Whiteboards | Excalidraw | Hand-drawn diagrams |
Highlights
Supabase
Supabase gives you a real Postgres database with auth, file storage, and realtime — the backend behind many AI-built apps on Zivvi.
Cal.com
Cal.com does everything you'd expect from a scheduling tool, with the option to self-host and customize.
n8n
n8n connects your apps with visual workflows, including AI steps, and you can run it on your own server.
Ghost
Ghost is a publishing platform with memberships and paid newsletters built in — you keep your audience and your revenue.
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is a trusted, open-source password manager with a solid free plan.
Hosted or self-hosted?
Most of these offer a hosted plan. Start there; self-host once you know you'll stay. Your data is portable either way — that's the point.
Frequently asked questions
What does open source mean for an app?
The code is public, so anyone can inspect it, contribute, or run their own copy. You're not locked into one company.
Are open-source apps free?
The software is usually free to self-host. Most also sell a hosted version so you don't have to run servers yourself.
What is the best open-source alternative to Firebase?
Supabase. It's built on Postgres and covers database, auth, storage, and realtime.
Is there an open-source alternative to Zapier?
Yes — n8n is a popular open-source automation tool you can self-host or use in the cloud.
Enjoyed this?
Share it with someone who's picking their next app.
